Dive-bombing Barn Swallows

[GaitedGloryRider]

Well, BO is out of town for a show for the week and I’ve assumed feed duties. There is a family of barn swallows nesting in the rafters, I can see three little heads poking out of the nest in addition to the parents. Unfortunately they are nested right above the feed bins near the barn entrance! No way to avoid them and the parents get pretty wound up when I’m out there fixing grain. I had them so worked up yesterday morning they continued their dive-bombing well after I was done feeding, I was dodging them the whole time I was saddling up horses and leading them in/out of the barn to the riding arena.

Is there ANY way to keep them from getting so riled other than avoiding their space altogether? Because that just isn’t possible with the location of their nest. Am I just going to have to suck it up? And how long before they move along?

I won’t consider killing them, I won’t consider knocking down the nest especially since there are babies in it. I’d rather just keep ducking past the angry parents of that’s what I have to do.

They don’t seem to be bothered with me in the evenings. Will they just get used to me? I’m guessing BO either isn’t bothered by them or hasn’t even noticed. They’ve got me a little unnerved even though they stop short of making contact by a few feet. This is the first time I’ve had birds actually dive-bomb me like this!

[Jumpin_Horses]

The babies are getting ready to fly out of the nests. Mama and Daddy like to protect the surrounding areas for their little ones during this time

they are okay, they wont hit you, just ignore them. They will also make a “chirp” sound when they get really close, giving you the illusion that they are going to get you, but, they dont. and they are SO tiny they wouldnt hurt you anyway.

they will stop once the babies are on their way. give it a few days and dont worry, they wont get you. they are expert flyers.

the babies rest at night. thats why they are quiet after dark

[SuperAlter]

I laughed- Sorry not at you but I have a mental picture.

We have lots but specifically the two that have the nest on the front porch dive bomb the cat over and over and over again its hysterical to watch because he seems completely oblivious!!! You can even see his hair move thats how close they get!

There are 4 babies in there who Im thinking will take flight pretty soon.

[prairiewind2]

Yes. Barn swallows are all hat and no cattle! They won’t actually hit you like a blue jay will, so ignore them. I pretend they aren’t there, which seems to calm them little. I don’t look at the nest ('cept out of the corner of my eye) and pretend I don’t see the parents sitting at the top of the stall. I had one pair years ago that almost became tame just because they didn’t think I could see them, I think. LOL!

Liz

[SuperAlter]

They may have gotten used to you. I have no idea why they thought it was a good idea to build a nest a foot from the front doo ( the main access point of the house)… but they did.

They no longer get annoyed with the amount of activity. They may get used to the routine and settle. Make quite, deliberate movements and they may just stare out you !

I really think the only reason they dive bomb the one cat is because they know he is the killer. There are 3 cats by they only antagonize the one !

Smart little things they are

[GaitedGloryRider]

Yeah, they were chirping and squawking it up yesterday morning! Today they weren’t as bad, but I knew they were there this time and did my business hastily, also didn’t ride so I wasn’t there as long.

Come to think of it they probably are dive-bombing the cats too. That would explain why the two old gals have been reluctant to go to their food dishes which are right next to the feed bins (underneath the nest). Maybe best if I move the cat dishes to a tack room for a few days?

We’ve had barn swallows before but they’ve always been towards the back of the barn or in the building where the tractors are kept. First time I’ve ever encountered a nest right up by the front of the barn where all the activity is! Good to know they won’t actually make contact, they had me ducking and covering my head yesterday.

I was having flashbacks of watching “The Birds” with my parents back when I was a little kid. Man that movie creeped me out! Nightmares for a week.

[GaitedGloryRider]

Well it seems my feathered friends have moved along already, they were not out to greet me all day and the nest appears to be empty.

Should I knock down the nest now that they are gone? Will they try to come back to it some point?

[Bacardi1]

Are you the barn manager? Why so eager to knock down the nest? Just leave it be for the time being.

[SLW]

For me, being dive bombed by my resident barn swallows is a rite of summer. Same with my kitties. I can always tell where the kitties are based on where the swallows are diving.

Leave the nest for another week or so. The birds might have just been out for a Sunday fly.

[potteryshop]

At my barn, one momma is currently sitting on her 2nd nest of eggs for the year. They may use the nest again.

[event1]

I know I am going to be in the complete minority here-but I hate barn swallows in my barn…I know-I know, they eat their weight in bugs-yadda, yadda, yadda-but I had like 7 pairs this year building nests in my barn aisle (which is not really that tall) and they were loud and obnoxious and causing complete chaos in and out of my barn. I just kept knocking their nests down as they started to build them and they all left. A pair did build one in the rafters of my overhang (which was fine) but they never stayed there. In the evenings-the entrances to my barn looked like a bat cave and they did hang out and go to sleep at like-9 o’clock…but that is not when I am in my barn. As I was walking out to feed my older horse in the run in shed last year-one dive bombed me and knocked the sunglasses off my ball cap on my head…YEAP-that was it for their welcome. All my neighbors who have barns said they wished they had some-so as far as I am concerned-they can go make chaos ‘over there’! Flame suit zipped…

[JB]

I love love love the BSs!!! We have tons of them, and this year we were “subjected” to 2 days of parents teaching babies how to live in the great outdoors. It was so awesome

These were taken right on our back deck. The little guys were “put” on top of the skeleton of the little gazebo
http://barnswallowsatjbacres.shutterfly.com/pictures/8

[asb2517]

[QUOTE=event1;6407528]
I know I am going to be in the complete minority here-but I hate barn swallows in my barn…I know-I know, they eat their weight in bugs-yadda, yadda, yadda-but I had like 7 pairs this year building nests in my barn aisle (which is not really that tall) and they were loud and obnoxious and causing complete chaos in and out of my barn. I just kept knocking their nests down as they started to build them and they all left. A pair did build one in the rafters of my overhang (which was fine) but they never stayed there. In the evenings-the entrances to my barn looked like a bat cave and they did hang out and go to sleep at like-9 o’clock…but that is not when I am in my barn. As I was walking out to feed my older horse in the run in shed last year-one dive bombed me and knocked the sunglasses off my ball cap on my head…YEAP-that was it for their welcome. All my neighbors who have barns said they wished they had some-so as far as I am concerned-they can go make chaos ‘over there’! Flame suit zipped…;)[/QUOTE]

Completely agree. I hate birds. I don’t care if they leave me alone, but barn swallows are the worst. And PS…for everyone who says “they NEVER hit you”…that’s NOT true…sometimes their timing is not as good as they think. Or maybe they know I hate them. One or the other, but sometimes they hit you.

[JB]

Any bird that eats as many bugs as a BS does is a-ok in my book, even if I take a hit for it every now and then Not that I have - they don’t nest in my barn

[Bacardi1]

[QUOTE=asb2517;6407880]
Completely agree. I hate birds. I don’t care if they leave me alone, but barn swallows are the worst. And PS…for everyone who says “they NEVER hit you”…that’s NOT true…sometimes their timing is not as good as they think. Or maybe they know I hate them. One or the other, but sometimes they hit you.[/QUOTE]

And with their wide mouths & soft beaks, please do tell us exactly how you’ve been injured by them? Did you have to go to the ER?

Oh - & they’re not only EXTREMELY important to the environment, but PROTECTED BY LAW. So, hate them or not, do try to restrain yourself from killing them or destroying their nests.

[asb2517]

[QUOTE=Bacardi1;6409300]
And with their wide mouths & soft beaks, please do tell us exactly how you’ve been injured by them? Did you have to go to the ER?

Oh - & they’re not only EXTREMELY important to the environment, but PROTECTED BY LAW. So, hate them or not, do try to restrain yourself from killing them or destroying their nests.[/QUOTE]

I happen to have a bird phobia. No I didn’t have to go to the ER…don’t be ridiculous. And PS I wasn’t the one who said I ripped their nests down and there is NO way I could ever get close enough to kill one, so get off your high horse.

[GaitedGloryRider]

[QUOTE=Bacardi1;6407199]
Are you the barn manager? Why so eager to knock down the nest? Just leave it be for the time being.[/QUOTE]

Not the barn manager, but a boarder of 15 years and I take care of the barn AM/PM most of the show season and on pretty dang friendly terms with BO. She’d have no objections to me knocking the nest down.

I’ve got no problem with them coming back and nesting in the barn but would like to see them nest in a less active area. They were right above the barn entrance where the feed bins are, where the cats are fed, where the most-used set of cross-ties are and where the horses are led in/out to go to pasture, go to the arena to ridden, go out for trail rides etc you get the point.

If knocking down the nest would open the possibility of them setting up shop elsewhere in the barn (say, the rear where there is little activity) then I don’t see the harm in doing so. The birds weren’t exactly happy with all the activity.

I’m not stupid, I know I can’t tell them where to nest. But maybe with that nest gone, if they come back there is a chance they’d build the next one in a different part of the barn?

[event1]

Hey Bacardi1-just wondering…are you like the bird police?:lol: Calm down already.

[JB]

Bacardi does have a valid point

[Bacardi1]

[QUOTE=event1;6410331]
Hey Bacardi1-just wondering…are you like the bird police?:lol: Calm down already.[/QUOTE]

Well, apparently, from the absolutely idiotic & hysterical threads/posts on here every year re: folks going batshit crazy about Barn Swallows, SOMEONE has to act as “bird police”.

And I’m perfectly calm. Just dismayed that so very many supposedly intelligent people know so very little about the wildlife they live amongst. Their only viewpoint seems to be “I’m being inconvenienced & how can I make this inconvenience stop asap”.